10 Cost-Effective Alternatives To The Chevy C8 Corvette

Chevrolet finally brought the mid-engined C8 Corvette, a rear-wheel drive, two-door sports car to market in 2019. It quickly gained popularity for its supercar-like aesthetics and handling while coming in at a much cheaper price than actual supercars. The C8 carries a starting price of around $79,645 for the well-equipped 3LT model.

It packs a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter LT2 V-8. You get 490 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque with the Stingray powertrain, or 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet with the E-Ray powertrain. You’ll see an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission on all trims. A 0-60 mph time of three seconds, or 2.8 in the Corvette Stingray Z51 plus a top speed of 184 MPH make it a force to be reckoned with. That being said, there are still alternatives to the C8 ‘Vette that can be had for a comparable price that are just as quick, or in some cases – even quicker.

Related: 15 Affordable Cars That Can Potentially Rival A C8 Chevy Corvette

10 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S

Average Used Price $40,000-$60,000

The Mercedes-AMG C63 S, being a competitor with the BMW M4 Competition and the Audi RS5, is a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. At first glance, you may not expect this car to be comparable to that of the C8 Corvette, however, underneath this four-door sedan’s hood is a truly powerful twin-turbo 4.0-liter engine.

Performance

A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard, as well as rear-wheel drive. As far as the top speed, the C63 S is limited to 180 MPH, which is more than enough. An electronically controlled limited-slip differential is also standard, as well as AMG Ride Control suspension with adaptive dampers.

9 2016-2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

Average Used Price: Around $56,371-$74,000

Being one of the cheaper cars on the list, that does not mean the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 does not have potential. This car packs Ford’s 5.2-liter flat-plane crank V-8 engine that can rev to an insane 8,250 RPMs, making it one of the highest-revving V-8 production engines made. On top of the high redline, this engine has an incredible sound and usable power throughout the RPM ranges.

Performance

As for the transmission, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 is only available with a six-speed TREMEC manual transmission. It has a great-handling chassis that features electronically assisted steering, making it completely capable on the track. Apart from the Shelby badging and front Recaro Sport seats, The interior is not far off from a standard Mustang.

Related:Why The C8 Corvette ZR1 Is About More Than Just Speed

8 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Average Used Price $60,000-$70,000

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is a beautifully designed car that provides Italian engineering with a touch of supercar inspiration. It has a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 engine with ties to Ferrari, making over 500 horsepower to the rear wheels. Even though this car doesn’t use a massive V-8 like some of the others on the list, you’ll still see a subpar gas mileage of around 17 MPG to 25 MPG.

Performance

The Giulia Quadrifoglio features a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission, with a manual transmission unfortunately not being an option. Besides the Alfa’s incredibly designed chassis and exciting twin-turbo powertrain, this car also boasts a luxurious and sporty interior that bears supercar-like features such as the start/stop button placed on the steering wheel and big paddle shifters on the backside of the wheel.

7 2020 Cadillac CT6-V

Average Used Price $60,000-$80,000

The Cadillac CT6-V is a great car if you want C8 Corvette-like performance while also having sedan space and Cadillac luxury. It has a twin-turbo 4.2-liter V-8 engine that makes more than 50 horsepower over the C8 ‘Vette. The CT6-V has a 10-speed automatic transmission, paired with an all-wheel drive system that allows it to accelerate to 60 MPH in 3.8 seconds.

Performance

Running up to 20 pounds of boost through the twin-scroll turbochargers, the CT6-V produces nearly as much torque as the SRT Hellcats, or more specifically – 175 pound-feet more than the C8 Corvette. The change from the previous small-block Chevy engine to the current 4.2-liter Blackwing V-8 allows for a less violent powerband and a smooth, deep note to the exhaust.

Related:The Cadillac CT6 V-Sport Gives the Mercedes-AMG S65 Something to Worry About

6 2023 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

MSRP $68,695

If you are still reminded of a straight-line muscle car when thinking of the Chevrolet Camaro, it may be surprising to learn that the Camaro ZL1 has evolved into something completely different. With great handling, tight and nimble steering, and a potent powertrain capable of incredible speed, the ZL1 is completely capable of being a track-worthy car. It has a supercharged 6.2-liter pushrod V-8 that makes over 150 horsepower more than the C8 Corvette.

Performance

As for the transmission, a six-speed manual is standard, with a 10-speed automatic being optional. The power is put to the ground through a rear-wheel drive system, while also having adaptive dampers that adjust according to what drive mode the ZL1 is in. As you might expect with a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, the fuel efficiency is not the best. 13 MPG is common in the city, while you can get closer to 21 MPG on the highway.

5 2024 Audi S6

MSRP $74,700

At first glance, the Audi S6 doesn’t look much like a car that would be compared to the C8 Corvette, however, its performance will speak for itself. The S6 features a twin-turbocharged and supercharged 2.9-liter V-6 engine that makes 444 horsepower and nearly the same amount of torque. As you’d expect from an Audi, this car features the known and loved Quattro all-wheel drive system that made a name for Audi back in the prime of its rally days.

Performance

Inside the car, you’ll notice a modern and luxurious interior that is commonplace among German cars. Diamond-stitched leather upholstery and genuine wood trim are used, while features such as four-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, and 12-way power-adjustable heated front seats give you an incredibly comfortable ride.

Related: This Lamborghini-Powered 1995 Audi S6 Is the Most Ridiculous Thing You’ll Ever See

4 2021-2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody

Average Used Price: $75,000-$95,000

The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody is one of the fastest cars on the list, having over 200 horsepower more than the C8 Corvette. Chances are, you’ve heard of the Hellcat due to the sheer power it possesses, making them very popular. It features a supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V-8 engine that makes over 700 horsepower, and over 800 horsepower in the Jailbreak version.

Performance

A quick-shifting eight-speed dual-clutch transmission paired with the rear-wheel drive system allows the Charger SRT Hellcat to achieve a 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds. The Widebody version provides stiffer chassis components as well as bigger, wider tires that allow for better grip and handling.

3 2020-2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye

Average Used Price: $75,000-$100,000

The Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye shares most of its features with the Charger SRT Hellcat such as the same supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V-8 engine. Apart from this car being a two-door coupe, the other major difference is that the Challenger SRT Redeye is even scarier, with 80 more horsepower than the already fast Charger Hellcat.

Performance

This car also uses an eight-speed automatic transmission and a rear-wheel drive system, with a 0-60 time that is 0.2 seconds faster than the Charger Hellcat, at 3.6 seconds. The Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is also capable of setting pleasing times at the drag strip right off of the lot – with a time of 11.8 seconds at 125 MPH in the quarter mile. The fuel efficiency is like that of a pickup truck – or maybe worse. You’ll see around 13 MPG in the city, and up to 22 MPG on the highway.

Related:This Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye Is The Perfect Blend Between Old And New

2 2023 Jaguar F-Type

MSRP $79,175

The Jaguar F-Type is another car like the C8 Corvette that combines supercar-like styling with top-notch performance and amazing engine sound. It has a supercharged 5.0-liter V-8, making slightly less power and torque than the Corvette, with a top speed that is within 10 MPH of the ‘Vette.

Performance

As for the transmission, this car has an eight-speed automatic transmission powering the rear-wheel drive system. There is not much space within the car, although you have plentiful options to choose from when it comes to picking interior trims. On top of the pleasing interior, you may be surprised to learn that even with a supercharged V-8, this car still sees up to 28 MPG on the highway.

1 2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Average Used Price: $90,000-$100,000

Following the trend that we see in other cars such as the Camaro ZL1, Ford has turned the Mustang into an absolute track car with the Shelby GT500. Dubbed the “Predator”, the engine is a supercharged aluminum 5.2-liter V-8 similar to the GT350 – only with 200 more horsepower. A 0 to 60 time of 3.4 seconds makes this one of the quickest accelerating cars on the list. While not being able to rev as high as the GT350, the GT500 still has a redline of over 7,000 RPMs.

Performance

As for the transmission, an automatic seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is standard. Manual transmissions are not available on this car. Having over 700 horses, stick shifts become less functional than you’d think. Just like the GT350, a somewhat basic interior is standard, minus the Shelby badging.